Rudra and Light Combat Helicopters to be armed with air-to-air missile

HAL is planning to integrate air-to-air missiles in its attack chopper fleet of Rudra and LCH (Light Combat Helicopter). The Defense Ministry is in the process to order new air-to-air missiles.

The choppers are made in India by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited. The Rudra is the weaponized version of HAL Dhruv which was inducted in 2013, whereas LCH is still under development. A total of 78 Rudras have been ordered in which 23 of them are already in service with the armed forces.

French Company MBDA will be integrating the missiles onto the helicopters.

“The contract negotiation committee will start in a few days. We had to do work on a few items before, which is now complete. We are fully compliant with the chopper,” Loic Piedevache, Country Head (India) of MBDA, said.

With the air-to-air missile, the choppers will be more deadly and will reduce the dependency on fighter aircraft for escorts.